-CB News Desk (cbedit@imaws.org)
Chennai: Dr.Chef Soundararajan P, General Secretary of the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations, had passed away due to a heart attack.
Soundarajan (64), a native of Coimbatore is a veteran in the industry who had completed his Bachelors in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Madras followed by a Catering and Hotel Management degree from the IHM – Chennai. Dr.Chef Soundararajan has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Vels University by the former President of India, Dr. A P J. Abdul Kalam.
In his four decades of experience as a culinary professional, Dr. Chef P Soundararajan formerly served as Corporate Executive Chef at Club Mahindra Holidays & Resorts, India’s leading lifetime holiday company with 50 resorts across the country. He has held this position till May 2019 in 1997. Commencing his career with ‘The Ashok’, a part of the Taj Group of Hotels, he trained under the renowned French Chef Roger Moncourt and was assigned to Catering for the prestigious Asian Games for close to six thousand athletes every day.
In the WorldChefs article honoring Chef Soundararajan, it mentioned “The Prime Minister’s Chef!” was his first major success, being appointed as the “Chef” in charge at the Official State House of the Prime Minister in New Delhi. Here he prepared all the state banquets hosted by the Prime Minister and the Vice President of India, cooking for more than 40 heads of state, including Nelson Mandela, K P. Bhattarai, and Maumoon Gayoom.
As a founder General Secretary of the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations, Chef Soundarajan has been innovative and instrumental in mentoring many young talents. He is survived by his family in Chennai. If reports are to be believed, P Soundarajan had a massive heart attack while attending a webinar in the chef uniform.
Words From People From The Industry
“Our flags are down today and our knives are sharp-less. We lost a piece of our culinary heart, the main pillar of our industry and truly an Iconic Master. Chef Soundarajan was the inspiration to the whole Chefs world. You were full of faith, courage and strength. I am sure you are reading this as you can read each one of the messages the whole world is posting right now, I am speechless, my heart is broken, I feel the pain of each one of your family because we both know how we feel about our Chefs fraternity. We wish you Chef Soundarajan farewell in your journey to eternity. You would never be forgotten, rest in peace in the arms of God,” said Dr. Chef Manjit Singh Gill, Founder President, IFCA
“Chef Soundararajan P was in uniform when we lost him, participating in a culinary webinar. Founder general secretary of the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA), he was active all through his career, teaching and inspiring chefs, and dedicated to the hospitality industry till the very end. When he was not working, he spent a lot of time and energy bringing people together. He was a great mentor not only to me but many senior and junior chefs all over the country. His demise has left a great vacuum which will be very difficult to fill, ” said Chef Jugesh Arora in The Hindu. Jugesh is the director of the Chef’s Table Studio, and honorary president of the South India Chefs Association.
Worldchefs President,Thomas A. Gugler, shares a message of farewell after the passing of Dr. Chef P Soundararajan. “Unfortunately our good friend from India, Chef Sundararajan passed away yesterday. I am terribly sad to announce that and also wish that Sundararajan, as my personal friend and guardian figure for Indian Culinary and Chefs world, a good farewell on his way to heaven,” said Chef Gugler. Please watch the video here.
Special connection with ChefBharath news portal:
Dr Soundarajan has a special connection with this news portal. After initiating this idea, Chef Soundarajan was having a personal meeting with this journalist and was told the need for a B2B news portal for the culinary community. It was Dr. Soundarajan who invited the ChefBharath news portal for the IFCA event in New Delhi in 2019. On behalf of the journalists, designers, digital marketers in the team ChefBharath conveys deepest condolences to the family and friends of the departed soul
Rituals happening in this address:
Dr. Soundararajan
2J Block 2
Ocean dew Ramaniayam
200 ft Pallikaranai radial road
Pallikaranai
Chennai
